|
|
|
|
|
|
BMW Garage | BMW Meets | Register | Today's Posts | Search |
|
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
>
How to start tracking?
|
|
09-30-2007, 04:28 PM | #1 |
Second Lieutenant
16
Rep 217
Posts |
How to start tracking?
Hey guys, I really want to start going to tracks( courses, not dragstrips) but I'm not sure where to start. I am completely new to this and about the only track/autox experience I have is at the bmw pdc in SC when we picked up my brother's m3. My question is where do I start? Do I need to go to a driving school, or do I just call up a race track nearby and ask for schedule and info? And for those that have experience, what tracks on the southeast coast are appropriate/fun for novices like myself? I've always wanted to utilize the performance cars I get for something other than the occasional spirited drive on unpredictable public roads. Any help, links, info would be much appreciated. Thanks.
|
10-01-2007, 06:58 AM | #3 | |
First Lieutenant
20
Rep 313
Posts |
Quote:
You'll need to get a tech inspection for your car prior to going to an event, and you will need a snell 2005 approved helmet. All of those details will be on your bmwcca site. Other than that...enjoy
__________________
335i Coupe: Crimson Red / Black
X3 3.0si: Alpine White / Sand Beige |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-01-2007, 07:48 AM | #4 |
Major
53
Rep 1,137
Posts |
There are a number of good ways to get started, but attending as many schools as possible is a great idea!
BMW CCA schools are a good value for the money because they offer excellent instruction, lots of track time and strict safety measures. If your local BMW CCA Chapter does not offer enough schools to meet your taste, try the local Porsche clubs also. Skip Barber and Bob Bondurant remain top notch schools with many different programs for people at different levels. I also recommend a high end karting school as a good primer. I strongly urge you not to just go track your car without good instruction or else you can end-up like this guy . This guy did everything wrong, was in the wrong place on the track at all times and was driving his car way beyond his limit. None of which would have happened had a good instructor been sitting next to him I suspect. I really believe that the best way to learn is to start with auto-x. Do a dozen or so of these and then go to track events. IMHO auto-x if very good at exposing you to the subtleties of vehicle dynamics in a low speed, very safe environment. Once you master fine car control skills you will be better suited to tackle track days. I hope this helps!
__________________
2010 Evo X - silver with a big, stupid wing on the back
2009 VW CC - Black/Black - with a 2011 328i on order to replace it - ED 8/1/11 |
Appreciate
0
|
10-01-2007, 02:57 PM | #5 |
Colonel
105
Rep 2,317
Posts |
+1 BMW CCA schools are very good and for the most part safe and have very good instruction. I'm taking my wife out for her first one this weekend.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-01-2007, 09:13 PM | #6 |
Banned
97
Rep 1,760
Posts |
all of the above, but dont need to limit yourself to cca events, there are tons of other clubs out there that do track days, if you watch them all not sure about there but here i think you could do at least 2 track days a month if you wanted
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-01-2007, 09:19 PM | #7 | |
Banned
97
Rep 1,760
Posts |
Quote:
i CANNOT believe that car started the vids kinda washed out, i cant really see how he lost it, it looks like he just spun O_o |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-01-2007, 09:35 PM | #8 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
54
Rep 1,714
Posts |
Quote:
Been there, done that, luckily I recovered. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-01-2007, 09:44 PM | #9 |
Banned
97
Rep 1,760
Posts |
he didnt though, hes smooth on the throttle if you listen, it sounds like he hit a bump of some sorts, but he didnt (unless thats him pressing and releasing the throttle three times really fast in a row like that, dont know why he would)
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2007, 08:12 AM | #10 |
Major
53
Rep 1,137
Posts |
You have to really know that track to understand what happened there. WSIR is a brutal, unforgiving track. The prior turn, turn 8, he took wrong by staying tight to the inside all the way around. For comparison purposes I was taking that corner at about 105 (and at WOT) in my stock X3 and about 110 in my stock Civic Si (also at WOT) so I imagine he was going much faster in that Evo. By taking the line he took, he missed the only available straight braking area to set-up for turn 9 which is visually deceptive.
Turn 9 is a right turn that is about 50 degrees or so. The apex is really late because the exit to 9 is where the entrance to pit lane is. The pavement ends early on the exit of 9 and if you go off there you end up in dirt, going fast, with the wall separating the hot pit from the front straight right there. The guy in the video turned-in way too early and way too fast, went off at the exit of 9 and backed into the wall. He was simply in the wrong place on the track (as he was in every single corner in that video) and going WAY too fast. He almost lost it a few turns earlier at turn 3 and had he gone off there, he would have been embarrassed and dusty, but his car would have been in tact. There are two places on WSIR that you simply do NOT go off...turn 5 (which points distinctly downhill and an off there will cause the car to cartwheel a few times) and turn 9. The exterior photos demonstrate quite clearly why a full roll cage is important. Did you notice how the rear of the car was gone right up to the cage? That guy is lucky that he walked away.
__________________
2010 Evo X - silver with a big, stupid wing on the back
2009 VW CC - Black/Black - with a 2011 328i on order to replace it - ED 8/1/11 |
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2007, 09:19 AM | #11 |
Brigadier General
452
Rep 4,380
Posts
Drives: 2014 Audi A4 / 91 Track Miata
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
|
In the NorCal ..you could easily do 15 track days per month.
__________________
Car is now gone .... :-( |
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2007, 09:26 AM | #12 |
Banned
97
Rep 1,760
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-08-2007, 09:58 AM | #13 | |
Driver
8
Rep 210
Posts |
Quote:
The only thing I'd add is some reading to get your head in the right space and likely get more out of the schools. My two favorite driving books are: Speed Secrets by Ross Bently and Going Faster by Skip Barber. Have fun! Dan |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-08-2007, 10:51 AM | #15 | |
Brigadier General
452
Rep 4,380
Posts
Drives: 2014 Audi A4 / 91 Track Miata
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
|
Quote:
Quaife is NOT installed yet..really needed it this weekend at Infineon...should get it installed in the next two weeks...I am sick of seeing the box in my garage. :-)
__________________
Car is now gone .... :-( |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-16-2007, 02:19 PM | #18 | |
Moderator
506
Rep 27,441
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-16-2007, 08:21 PM | #19 |
Lieutenant
13
Rep 427
Posts |
thought I'd spice up this thread with a pic...here I am in my first BMWCCA school at the intermediate level. Accelerating onto the front straight at Putnam Park Road Course, Mt. Meridian IN.
Car is stock except Kosei K1's 17x8.5+Kumho Exsta MX 225/45
__________________
2006 330i, SP, PP, fold down rear seats, sparkling graphite, black leather, metallic trim.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-17-2007, 12:00 AM | #20 |
Brigadier General
452
Rep 4,380
Posts
Drives: 2014 Audi A4 / 91 Track Miata
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
|
Yeah..after turn #8...you gotta slow a bit for turn #9. He was early apexing turn #8...which screwed up his exit on turn #9.
__________________
Car is now gone .... :-( |
Appreciate
0
|
10-17-2007, 12:42 AM | #21 |
Lieutenant Colonel
54
Rep 1,714
Posts |
Man those are some skinnies! Did you consider 245s or 255s on those Koseis? that's what I'm thinking of doing.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2007, 11:46 AM | #22 |
Private First Class
9
Rep 158
Posts |
Digi,
Since you indicate that you live in the Southeast, this website should prove helpful - http://www.trackschedule.com/ Click on Calendar and you'll see a lot of choices. I've done two weekends at Road Atlanta with the BMWCCA, and a weekend at Roebling Road (Savannah) with Seat-Time. I would recommend both whole heartedly. You need to do your homework ahead of time, though, because the events can sell out quickly so you need to get in the loop as to when to register. One warning - it's incredibly addictive!
__________________
2013 320i, 6sp Manual, Sport Package / 2003 M3 track car
|
Appreciate
0
|
Bookmarks |
|
|